입양딸 역할을 지나치게 잘해버렸다 042화

“Alright. But can I finish the strawberry milk first?”

How should I handle this?

Medea interpreted my hesitation differently.

“You seem relaxed.”

None of my siblings acted like Viola.

Even the openly hostile 2nd and 3rd princes had never sipped strawberry milk so peacefully.

Especially when being called to the training grounds.

There was no trace of tension or fear on Viola’s face.

“It’s delicious. Zeno made it personally.”

“The butler?”

“Yes. He crushed and froze the strawberries himself.”

Zeno smiled broadly.

“The ice is…”

Zeno and Viola said in unison.

“Like snowflakes.”

“Like snowflakes.”

Zeno bent at the waist.

“The princess loves strawberry milk so much that I practiced a bit.”

“Ah, you’re a master of the ice sword, right? Are you using that skill to make strawberry milk?”

“It’s flattering to be called a master by a 1st rank knight… but I’m glad my swordsmanship can be utilized in this way.”

“Strawberry milk refined into ultra-fine consistency using the Lasbon ice sword method? How interesting. Can you treat me to it next time?”

“Of course.”

Viola sipped her strawberry milk as slowly as possible.

Medea waited for Viola, sipping tea like a noblewoman.

‘Even that sight is lovely.’

If my favorite character was Heron, then my second favorite was Medea.

Medea was always upright and strong, never yielding to any trials or threats.

She was like a tranquil lake, maintaining calm.

A huge lake that could flood and devour everything at any moment.

With each sip of her strawberry milk, Viola gathered her thoughts about Medea.

“Medea was someone who loved her family more than anyone else.

That’s why she desired power more than anyone else.”

Medea was a natural prodigy, coupled with relentless effort, a true genius.

“I just hope that under powerful rule, no more of my siblings get hurt or die.”

She had to grow stronger.

She didn’t want to kill anyone.

Ironically, that’s why she had to be strongest.

And in the latter part of the novel, she became the doomed character met with death at Viola’s hands.

“Viola. You have grown so tall.”

“Sister. I admired you while also hating you.”

Even in the latter part of the novel, Princess Medea was an imposing wall that was hard to surpass.

“You were always radiant and noble. You were different from me. What disgusted me most was that you loved me, even though I was your half-sibling.”

“The problem is you already knew I would attack you, didn’t you, Sister?”

Viola’s eyes reddened. Tears streamed down her red eyes.

The only person Viola had opened her heart to in the original was Medea.

To Viola, Medea was a figure of both love and hate.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t have forgiven myself.”

“I wouldn’t have died so easily either.

You were the Bellatu whom I respected most and will continue to respect in the future. So why…”

It happened to be raining that day.

It was pouring rain.

“Then why did you die so easily?” Medea smiled softly as she replied.

“Because you’ve grown enough. I’m already tired. So I just want to rest.”

Viola wielded her dagger.

Medea’s body leaned.

“I’m sorry for putting such a heavy burden on you. Forgive your foolish sister.”

Even while collapsing, Medea maintained her composure.

She sat cross-legged.

With blood flowing profusely, she spoke.

“Yet, I still loved you. My family. My sister.”

With those words, Medea closed her eyes.

In that seated position, the upright Medea remained so until the very end.

The 1st princess didn’t want to hurt me.

If that was the case, there was a way.

*

At the training grounds.

There, Tundra was learning swordsmanship.

“Oh, Medea. What brings you here?”

“Uncle. It’s been a while.”

As Zeno explained the situation, Hixson shook his head.

“No matter how genius Viola is, do you really think you can test her?”

“I just have something I want to check.”

“What if I stop you?”

“Those who stand in the way of Bellatu’s will will have to fall.”

“You? Me?”

“Isn’t it possible?”

Hixson widened his eyes.

“You’ve grown up a lot. You used to be so small.”

It looked like a tense moment was brewing.

However, the feared situation did not occur.

“You’ve shrunk a lot. Last time, your hands were huge.”

“I haven’t shrunk; you’ve just grown.”

Hixson sighed.

“Who could say that doesn’t look like Bellatu? You could eat me up like that.”

“If necessary, yes.”

Hixson sighed again.

He didn’t seem like he would stop talking.

“Still, there should be a mediator, right?”

“If you take on that role, I’ll feel at ease.”

“If someone gets hurt while mediating, that’s on me.”

“That someone could be me?”

“Highly likely?”

Medea smiled.

“It seems you care a lot for my sister.”

“Yeah. She’s like a daughter to me in my heart.”

“A daughter?”

“Didn’t you hear? I told Heron exactly that.”

“First time hearing it.”

Medea found it amusing.

‘Uncle looks lively. He seems like a completely different person now.’

At that time, Medea thought Hixson would die in a few years.

She was sad, thinking her father would have killed his broken friend, Hixson.

But now, six years later.

Hixson, who had overcome past wounds, had become a stronger person than before.

‘The reason is you, Viola.’

Her curiosity for Viola grew stronger.

“What weapon do you wield?”

“I use a dagger.”

“You know it’s a fundamentally disadvantaged weapon, right?”

Medea unsheathed her sword.

Swoosh—

The clear sound of the blade resonated through the training grounds.

It glimmered, even without sunlight.

The blue blade, spewing out elegance, seemed like a fine product crafted with utmost care.

“To use a dagger, the first priority is to close the distance with your opponent.”

“I know.”

“Right. Maybe I said something too obvious.”

“Sister.”

“What?”

“Give me a handicap.”

If her opponent were another Bellatu, she wouldn’t have spoken like that.

But the opponent was 1st Princess Medea.

“What kind of handicap?”

“Sister, don’t move from that spot. Then I can definitely win.”

“Really?”

Medea grinned.

She didn’t find Viola’s brazen request for a handicap unappealing.

‘As long as I can check her skills.

So that’s what I’ll do.

To see if injuring the body of Prince Kundo was a coincidence. Or a skill measure.

That was the only thing I needed to verify.

“I’m going now, Sister.”

Viola started to walk purposefully.

“For that, footwork becomes more important than any sword technique. You need to read the timing at least half a beat faster than others…”

Medea tilted her head for a moment.

Viola approached confidently.

‘This isn’t footwork.’

She simply walked forward.

“If you come in like that, you’ll get cut.”

Medea swung her sword.

Whoosh—

Medea’s blade grazed Viola’s hair.

A few strands were cut and danced in the air.

Viola didn’t flinch.

‘No sign of disturbance at all?’

From Medea’s vantage point, it looked that way.

But the truth was different.

‘Oh damn, this is terrifying!’

Inside, Viola was scared to death.

But a dog that studied for three years could also recite poetry.

‘I’ve been doing this for three years.

I got pretty used to it.

I practiced hard against the bloodthirsty monster Bichen, who’s obsessed with blood.

Every day I had to pass Zeno’s condensed trials.

‘This is nothing.’

Medea was cautious.

Moreover, this kind of situation was probably unfamiliar to her.

But Viola wouldn’t hold back her attacks.

‘Sister would never cut her own blood.’

That’s why the original Viola hated Medea.

While she desperately rushed in, Medea always accepted it.

That’s what made original Viola so angry.

But now, Viola wasn’t the Viola from the original.

‘I’m not angry.’

Why would I be mad that she doesn’t cut me?

There’s absolutely no reason to be mad.

On the contrary, thank you, thank you, oh thank you!

Medea said.

“If you come blindly close, you’ll get cut.”

Once again, her sword flew through the air threateningly.

Viola did not dodge.

She simply walked forward.

With a hair’s breadth, Medea’s blade grazed Viola’s neck.

A light wound appeared on Viola’s neck.

Drops of blood formed.

‘Ugh, ahh, it stings!’

But the acting was already solidified.

She just kept walking forward.

The swordsmanship genius Medea found this situation strange.

This was her first time facing such a scenario.

Viola just walked up and tightly hugged Medea’s waist.

“I won.”

Clash!

With a sound, the dagger Viola was holding fell to the ground.

Viola had tossed her dagger away.

In an instant, Medea was speechless.

She had never experienced a hug with any of her siblings.

Not an analytical hug for body type assessment, but a genuine hug.

It felt strange.

“Viola, you’re too defenseless. If I were the enemy, you would’ve been finished.”

“Then you just need to stab me.”

“……”

“But.”

Viola released her hold on Medea’s waist.

She stepped back a step.

“If that were possible, neither the openly hostile 2nd nor 3rd princes would still be alive.”

Viola grinned and continued.

“Sister, if it’s alright, can we borrow this space? We have some things we want to discuss together.”

1st princess sister.

You’ve been chosen as the heir!

Please graciously become the next duke.

‘For my comfortable and brilliant old age!’

I decided to sketch that blueprint.